Rhetorical Analysis Of Franklin D Roosevelt Request A Declaration Of War Speech

Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his speech “Requesting a Declaration of War” on December 8, 1941, the day after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. The speech was given to formally declare war on Japan. The president can send troops into war since he is commander-in-chief, however, to keep troops fighting, Congress needs to approve. This speech wasn’t only given to Congress, but American’s listened as well, so President Roosevelt needed to rally the American people to support the war effort. Mr. Roosevelt includes syntax to let American’s know that the bombing was a planned attack. In his speech, Roosevelt gives American’s assurance that the war will be won when he discusses how, “we will gain the inevitable triumph” and this brings the country more

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong… Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.” He mentions the attacks to show that America wasn’t the only countries targeted, but others were too in a short amount of time. The 32nd president shows emotional appeal with the language that he uses throughout the speech. He uses words such as “suddenly” and “deliberately” to inform the American people that there was no warning about Japan bombing the United States. His most remembered line from his speech is “a date which will live in infamy” is important because he wants American’s to know that this event was uncalled for and that action must be taken. Roosevelt chooses his word choice carefully to get the American people on his side about going to war. He wants them to know that it was a “premeditated invasion,” “onslaught against us,” and a “form of treachery” (Roosevelt). The United States was working with the empire to maintain peace, but Japan destroyed negotiations. If America did not enter the war, hostilities would continue to exist and Roosevelt wanted American’s to know that “there was no blinking at the face that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.” The president had confidence that the armed forces could win the war and he got the American people to believe it as